Chromium and nickel co-doped ruthenium oxide catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction in acidic media

Abstract

An oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst for reaction in acidic media comprising: a chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO2) catalyst, and wherein the chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO2) catalyst comprises a Cr and a Ni co-doped in a ruthenium oxide (RuO2). Methods of preparing the OER catalyst are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst comprising:
 a chromium (Cr) and a nickel (Ni) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) catalyst, and   wherein the chromium (Cr) and the nickel (Ni) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) catalyst comprises a Ni and a Cr co-doped in a ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ).   
     
     
         2 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein Ru (ruthenium) ranges from about 75.0 at % to about 33.3 at %, chromium ranges from about 12.5 at % to about 33.3 at %, and nickel ranges from about 12.5% to about 33.3 at %. 
     
     
         3 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the OER catalyst is Ru 0.75 Cr 0.125 Ni 0.125 O 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium for doping the ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) is from chromium (II) chloride (CrCl 2 ) precursor. 
     
     
         5 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the nickel for doping the ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) is from nickel(II) chloride hexahydrate (NiCl 2 ·6H 2 O) precursor. 
     
     
         6 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium (Cr) and the nickel (Ni) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) catalyst is a solid solution metal oxide. 
     
     
         7 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium (Cr) and the nickel (Ni) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) catalyst comprises nanoparticles of the chromium (Cr) and the nickel (Ni) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) catalyst. 
     
     
         8 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the OER catalyst has a particle size of less than about 10 nm. 
     
     
         9 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the OER catalyst comprises a tetragonal rutile-type structure. 
     
     
         10 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium (Cr) and the nickel (Ni) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) catalyst is at an anode of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer. 
     
     
         11 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the OER catalyst is applicable for an acidic OER. 
     
     
         12 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein OER activity is performed in an acidic media, wherein the acidic media is perchloric acid. 
     
     
         13 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium (Cr) and the nickel (Ni) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) catalyst increased OER activity as indicated by a decrease in overpotential by about 89 mV at 10 mA/cm 2  as compared to OER activity of a RuO 2  catalyst not co-doped with the chromium and nickel. 
     
     
         14 . The OER catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium (Cr) and the nickel (Ni) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) catalyst is durable for about 2.5 to about 100 hours. 
     
     
         15 . A proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer comprising the OER catalyst of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A method of performing OER catalysis in acidic media, the method comprising an OER catalysis reaction in acidic media, the acidic media comprising an OER catalyst, the OER catalyst comprising:
 a nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) catalyst, and
 wherein the nickel (Ni) chromium (Cr) co-doped ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ) catalyst comprises a Ni and a Cr co-doped in a ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ).